Kraków

Two days in Kraków wasn’t nearly enough. Like Prague, it’s beautiful, has old world charm that’s beautiful and with its rich history and beautiful aesthetic it has been another complete highlight of this trip (who am I kidding, there has been highlight, after highlight, to the point I can’t identify any low points). The differential between Kraków and Prague is the radical difference in the number of tourists, a welcome respite from madding crowds!

The pictures that follow start with a focus on ‘Rynek Główny’ the Main Square, bustling with tourists, performers, vendors and restaurants of all sorts, it is dominated by St. Mary’s Basilica in one corner, the Cloth Hall in the center and the food pics that follow it were sourced at a couple of restaurants around the square’s perimeter. Great food, good times…

After the images of Kraków are scenes from the Wieliczka Salt Mine one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the region and well worth half a day to see. It’s a 3 hour walking tour traveling deep underground and walking several kilometers of the 287 kilometers of tunnels. The mine worked right up until 2007 when dropping prices diverted the mine to tourism rather than production.

It has an impressive cavern that functions as a chapel, complete with chandeliers made with rock salt crystals and statuary and icons carved from stone and salt blocks from the mine.

It’s a really impressive place all round and I’d go back in a heartbeat!